Self-connecting water closet floor flange



Aug. 3, 1965 A. FLADUNG SELF-CONNECTING WATER CLOSET FLOOR FLANGE Filed July 15, 1963 INVENTOR.

Albeart L F Iadun ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,198,553 SELF-CGNNECTING WATER CLET FLOOR FLANGE Albert L. Fladung, Denver, Colo., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Meyer J. Schaiiner, Westminster,

Colo.

Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 295,909 Claims. (Cl. 285-56) This invention relates to floor flanges for water closets, and more particularly to improved and simplified arrangements for connecting floor flanges to sewer pipe stubs terminating at the floor level of a room, a primary object of the invention being to provide a novel and improved floor flange which is adapted to be quickly and easily connected to a conventional cast iron sewer pipe which terminates at or slightly below the floor level of the room wherein the floor flange is set. As such, the invention will be called a self-connecting floor flange, or simply referred to as a floor flange.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved self-connecting floor flange for a water closet which may be mounted upon and connected to the end of a cast iron sewer pipe and then tightly aflixed to the pipe without the need of laboriously caulking and leading the flange in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved floor flange for connection with a cast iron sewer pipe stub such as is used in concrete floor construc-.

tion, and which provides for a quick, water-tight connection to the stub without the need for expensive and laborious preparations such as drilling into the concrete or presetting the flange, and which permits the pipe stub to be cut off a short distance below the finished floor level so that the concrete finishing operations of the floor surface may be completed without the necessity of making special allowances for the water closet sewer connection, other than plugging the sewer line with wasteicloth or the like so that it may be easily opened after the floor is completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved means for connecting a floor flange, or the like to the end of a cast iron sewer pipe which holds the flange securely and tightly in position.

Yet other objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved self-connecting closet floor flange which is a simply-constructed, neat-appearing, low-cost rugged and durable unit and which requires no special skill to install.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and elements as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in'which:

FIGURE 1 is a diametn'cal, sectional elevational view of a sewer pipe stub in a concrete floor, terminating slightly J below the floor level and a sectional view of the improved,

self-connecting floor flange set over the pipe opening and being connected to the pipe'therein.

FIGURE 2 is a part-plan, part-sectional veW of the arrangement illustrated at FIG. 1, as taken from the indicated line 22 at FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view of the selfconnecting floor flange per se as taken substantially from the indicated line 33 at FIG. 1.

3,198,553 Patented Aug. 3, 19 65 "ice install a cast iron drainage system before the floor is poured and finished, and the drain pipe for a water closet extends upwardly in the floor as a stub or short length of pipe which terminates at the surface of the floor.

The conventional connection of a floor flange to such pipe is accomplished in various ways and the flange may be even bolted to the concrete floor. This requires cutting or drilling into the concrete floor about the stub. To avoid such cutting, the floor flange may be afiixed to the pipe stub before the concrete is poured. Again, this is undesirable especially where the concrete floor is'machine finished. With machine finishing, the best mode of preparing for the concrete floor is to cut off the pipe stub a quarter to a half inch below the finished floor surface so that it will not interfere with concrete finishing operations. The stub is stuffed with waste cloth or other filler which is removed after the floor is finished. However, this mode of preparation does not lend itself to an easy connection of a conventional floor flange with a pipe stub after the floor is finished.

The present invention is especially useful for making a. connection with a pipe stub in a concrete floor so finished, for it comprises, in essence, a floor flange having a connector ring extending below the flange which is adapted to be inserted within the cast iron pipe and to be then expanded to fit tightly therein to grip the stub and so hold the flange against the floor. Therefore, while the invention may be also used advantageously in other installations, it will be described with respect to an installation in a concrete floor where the pipe stub terminates below the floor level.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, FIG. lillustrates, in section, the manner in which the improved floor flange F is connected to the end of a sewer pipe 10, which is set in a concrete floor 11. In the construction illustrated, the pipe stub 10 extends upwardly through the concrete floor and terminates a short distance below the surface of the floor. In preparation for the connection of the flange, F,- the concrete is cleaned out of the pipe and cut away from the top of the opening to expose the top edge of the pipe 10 which forms a shelf 12 whereon a gasket seats as hereinafter explained. It isto be noted that this upper edge will be irregular and rough especially when it is cut by a cold chisel as is ordinarily done.

The self-connecting floor flange F includesa conventional flat, ring-shaped flange ring 20 whose outer peripheral edge 21 is sized to tit within the base of a standard water closet. This flange face is formed with a depending rim bead 22 at its edge 21 which sets flatly upon the floor 1'0 with the center annular portion of the face being above the floor level. This permits a conventional T- shaped water closet connecting bolts, not shown, to be mounted in holding slots 23 which are spaced in diametrical opposition in the face of the fiangering 29. It is to be noted that the flange ring 26, with its edge 21, head 22, and slots 23 is essentially a conventional arrangement.

However, the inner annular edge 24 of this ring-shape flange ring 2:) is modified from the conventional in that it is of a diameter which is approximately the same as the inside diameter of the pipe 16 with the holding means being attached to this inner edge as will be hereinafter described. This inside portion of the flange ring 2% forms an overhanging ledge 25 which is in spaced opposition with the shelf formed by pipe end 12 and the ledge 25 may be either bead-shaped as illustrated or flat if desired. A'resilient tube-like packer ring 26, of sponge rubber or similar material, is positioned between the underside of the flange ledge 25 and the top of the pipe 12 to be compressed between this shelf and ledge with a watertight fit, as in the manner illustrated at FIG. 1.

.2 It is to be noted that the packer ring 26 will easily fill all irregularities in the end 12 of the pipe.

The holding means attached to the inner edge 24 of the flange ring 28' consists of a short gripper tube 39, held by a pair of diametrically opposed arms 31, in axial alignment with the polar axis of the ring 2 3, and a short distance below the ring to extend within the pipe stub 10 when the ring is placed on the floor 11. The arms-31 consist of short fiat members having their upper ends affixed to the ring edge 24- and their lower endsaffixed to .the top edge of the gripper tube 33. it is contemplated that the tube 321 will have an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the pipe 1% and that in use it will be inserted into the pipe stub and then expanded to grip the pipe. It is also contemplated that the flange unit P will be formed as a unitary memher, as of a single casting of a high quality cast iron or brass so as to permit slight flexure without undue stresses at any point. T o facilitate such construction, the points where the arms 31 connect with the flange ring 2 3 and the gripper tube 39 are suitably filleted.

The grippertube 3% is formed with a comparatively wide, tapered slot 32 at one side thereof, substantially between the opposing arms 31, to provide the general appearance of a C-shaped member when viewed in section. A like tapered wedge 33 is mounted in this slot and is adapted to be forced into this slot to spread the slot and increase the diameter of the tube 39. To facilitate fitting the wedge 33 in the slot 32, the sides of the slot'are formed with a single bevel 34 and the mating sides of the wedge are grooved as at 35 to register with the bevel.

Installation of this unit is a simple matter. After the concrete fioor 11 is finished with the stub It? being slightly below the floor level and with excess concrete being removed to expose the shelf 12, the flange is simply pushed into position with the gripper tube 3% being inserted into the pipe 10, Withthe packer ring 26 being compressed to close the gap between the under ledge 25 and the shelf 12 and with the flange ring 2% being seated on the concrete floor 11. Next, the wedge 35 is inserted into the slot 32 and is forced, as by pounding into the slot to the point where the gripper tube 30 expands to tightly grip the pipe.

Several variations of the structure are )ossible without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the first place, in order to accommodate variations of the internal diameter of several types of sewer pipes, as in the difference between standard and extra heavy pi w, the unit may be formed with the tube being adapted to fit into a pipe of minimum internal diameter and a simple tubular sleeve may be wrapped about the gripper tube 27 whenever it is used in a pipe having a slightly larger internal diameter. Also, as shown in the drawing, a preferred construction uses arms 31 which snace the gripper tube 39 about an inch below the flange ring 29 (when 4-inch diameter pipe is used) but it is recognized that such spacing could vary from merely a slot to several inches if desired.

I have now described my invention in considerable etail; however, it is obvious that others skihed in the art can'build and devise alternate and equivalent constructions which are nevertheless within the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence, I desire that my protection be limited, not by the construction illustrated and described, but only by the proper scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A water closet floor flange adapted to be set upon a floor and to connect with a sewer pipe extending upwardly from beneath the floor and terminating snbstan- Y eter sized to fit within the base of a water closet to be set thereover and an internal diameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of the sewer pipe and having means therein adapted to hold the water closet connecting bolts;

(0) a pair of diametrically opposed arms at the inner edge of the ring and depending therefrom to extend into a sewer pipe when the ring is set in position;

(c) a short tube depending from the arms and within the sewer pipe, having an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the sewer pipe and having a tapered slot at one side thereof;

(d) a like-tapered wedge adapted to be fitted into the slot and to expand the ring by being driven into the slot, and; I

(e) a packer ring at the underside of the flange ring adapted to set upon the top edge of the sewer pipe and the underside of the flange ring.

2. A water closet floor flange of cast iron or like material adapted to connect with a sewer pipe, extending upwardly from beneath the floor which terminates substantially at and slightly below the floor level and comprising:

(a) a flange-ring adapted to set upon a floor over a sewer pipe opening, having an external diameter sized to fit within the base of the water closet to be set there-over, an internal diameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of the sewer pipe and means thereon adapted to connect with a water closet setthereover;

(b) at least one'arm at the inner edge of the ring depending therefrom to extend into the sewer pipe when the ring is set in position upon the floor;

(c) a short tubular segment depending from the arm havingan external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the sewer and being of a segmental arc configuration substantially greater than 'Z 180 de rees, whereby expansion of the segment causes the same to expand against the internal wall of the sewer pipe; and,

(d) means substantially flush with the inner periphery of said sewer pipe to engage said tubular segment on each of the longitudinal sides thereof to forcibly expand the segment to cause it to tightly grip the internal wall of the sewer pipe.

Elfin the organization set'forth in claim 2, wherein said expansion means includes a wedge adapted to be driven into the space between the tube and the pipe wall whereby to press portions of the tube and the wedge against the pipe wall.

4. In the organization set forth in claim 2, wherein the ends of said tube segment form a slot and said expansion mcans'includes a wedge adapted to be driven into the slot thereof, whereby to increase the diameter of the tube and thereby press portions of the wedge and the tube against the pipe wall.

5. In the organization set forth in claim 2, wherein the ends of said tube form a tapered slot and said expansion means includes a tapered wedge adapted to fit into the slot, said tapered slot being wider at the upper edge adjacent to the ring, whereby to effect spreading by the wedge by driving it downwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 45,618 12/64 Lavery' 285-214 249,818 5/81 Duvall 285-214 633,037 9/99 Pfahler 285-214 762,897 6/04 Cruise 285 214 2,968,513, 10/59 Karlinski 285-58 3,101,960 8/63 Dancscu 2S558 CARL W. TGMLIN, Prinmry Examiner. 

1. A WATER CLOSET FLOOR FLANGE ADAPTED TO BE SET UPON A FLOOR AND TO CONNECT WITH A SEWER PIPE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM BENEATH THE FLOOR AND TERMINATING SUBSTANTIALLY AT AND SLIGHTLY BELOW THE FLOOR LEVEL AND COMPRISING: (A) A FLANGE RING ADAPTED TO BE SET UPON THE FLOOR OVER THE SEWER PIPE OPENING, HAVING AN EXTERNAL DIAMETER SIZED TO FIT WITHIN THE BASE OF A WATER CLOSET TO BE SET THEREOVER AND AN INTERNAL DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE SEWER PIPE AND HAVING MEANS THEREIN ADAPTED TO HOLD THE WATER CLOSET CONNECTING BOLTS; (B) A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED ARMS AT THE INNER EDGE OF THE RING AND DEPENDING THEREFROM TO EXTEND INTO A SEWER PIPE WHEN THE RING IS SET IN POSITION; (C) A SHORT TUBE DEPENDING FROM THE ARMS AND WITHIN THE SEWER PIPE, HAVING AN EXTERNAL DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE SEWER PIPE AND HAVING A TAPERED SLOT AT ONE SIDE THEREOF; (D) A LIKE-TAPERED WEDGE ADAPTED TO BE FITTED INTO THE SLOT AND TO EXPAND THE RING BY BEING DRIVEN INTO THE SLOT, AND; (E) A PACKER RING AT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FLANGE RING ADAPTED TO SET UPON THE TOP EDGE OF THE SEWER PIPE AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FLANGE RING. 